Device for simultaneously clamping and releasing plural workpieces



E. BRAUN 2,662,433 DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CLAMPING AND RELEASING PLURAL. WORKPIECES Dec. 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1950 IN V EN TOR. EDWARD B RAUN af wmw ATTORNEY.

Dec. 15, 1953 E. BRAUN 2,562,433

DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CLAMPING AND RELEASING PLURAL WORKPIECES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1950 IN VEN TOR. EDWARD BRAUN ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 15 1 953 DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CLAMPING" AND RELEASING PLURAL' WORKPIECES Edward I Braun',

Norwalk, Conn.

Caroline A;

Braun administratrix of said EdwardBraun;

deceased I Application February 8, 1950, Serial No. 143,115

3-Claims. (01. 8121)' The present invention relates broadly to amechanical movement, and is more particularly concerned with a vise or similar clamping device having a plurality of movable clamping jaws which are positioned'in such a, manner that as one, two "or'more articles'orwork pieces are simultaneously clamped'or held; other articles or work pieces are simultaneously released.

Such a vise or clamping device enables high speed production of work pieces which must be rigidly held duringoperations such as drilling, milling, grinding or like procedures.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a clamping device'having a plurality of movable jaws which are actuated by a double screwand tie rods and at least one fixed jawin which one screw is journaled.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a, multiple jaw vise having-means for positioning the jaws regardless of whether they move paralleloi" angularly relative to one another.

Still another object ofthe invention is found in theprovision of a'multiple jaw vise comprising a plurality of adjacently disposed article receiving pockets or areas wherebya plurality of work piecesmay beclampedwith'in some pockets while other workpieces are simultaneously released from otherpockets.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide a clamping 'device which is extremely compact in design; one which includes separable parts which may 'be quickly and-conveniently assembled or disassembled; one that is simple and practical in construction; strong and reliable in use; one thatis relatively inexpensive to manufacture, neat and attractiveinappearance, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which itis intended.

The invention and further features of novelty will bebetter understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of two embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vise'or clamping device embodying the invention wherein the multiple'jaws move parallel relative to one another.

Fig. 2 is a perspectivedetail view of one ofthe tie rods for the movable jaws or plates shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation to illustrate the manner in which the tie rods are connected with the movable jaws.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the mov- 2- able: jaws'or clamping plates and its mounting stud and washer.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailpartly inxvertical section illustrating the manner in which the movable clampingjaws are attached to andguid ed by the base support.

Fig; 6' is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the: invention taken substantially on the'plane indicated by line E6.of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of-"a modification of the invention wherein the clamping jawsor plates are pivotedforangular movement relative to one another in contrast to the parallel movement of the jaws shown in Fig. 1'.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational View of Fig. 7partlyin longitudinal verticalsection.

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspectiveview-of two of the clamping jaws-or plates shown in-Fig. '7 together with their hinge pinand a portionof the base support.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view H lustrating the pivotal connection of the inner screw shaft with its associated-clamping plate or jaws, and,

Fig. 11 is ad'etail view, partly in'horizonta'l section; illustrating one-method forpivotally connecting'thei ends of the tieirods'with thetclamps in'g plates or jaws of Fig. '7.

Referring now to the drawingsin detail, and; for thepresent to theform ofithefinventionxililustrated in Figs. lto Grespectively, the refer-= ence numeral [2 indicates the'vise' or clamping. device generally, including a U-shaped support comprising a base [3' having upwardly. extend-a ing parallel end walls or plates l4 and l5trespectively. As shown in Fig. 1 there are three movable plates orjaws I6; ll andlB'respectively; between" the stationary end walls or plates I4 and 15'; each of which jaws has azdownwardly extendingguide. portion or neck. IS. The necks [9. are slidably received withinalongitudinally inverted T-shaped slot 26 centrally disposed within the-base l3zas clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. The movable platesor jaws l6, l1 and I8 respectively, are slidably mounteduponthe base l3 and retained in slidingrelation therewith by removable fasteners suchas the shoulder screws 2| and washers 22.

Thejaws IE, IT and l81are moved by a pair of. threaded screws 23 and 24 and tie rods or. links 25 in a manner presently described. Screw 23 is. provided with an external left' hand screw thread 26- and' an internalright hand threaded bore 21" as clearly shown in the sectional view in Fig. 6. The reduced end 28 of screw 23 is rotatably journaled in an aperture 29 provided in the stationary wall l4, and a shoulder portion 30 provided on the screw limits its outward movement relative to the end wall [4. A hand wheel 3|, pinned to the reduced end 28 of screw 23, serves as one means for rotating the screw 23 within wall [4.

It will be apparent from Fig. 6 that screw 23 is threadedly received by the threaded hole 32 in jaw l6, and that one end of screw 24 is received within the threaded bore 21 of screw 23. The outer end of screw 24 is provided with a square head 33 which fits into the T-shaped slot 34 formed in the jaw I 1. Thus screw 24 is held against rotation relative to jaw I1.

As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the movable jaws l6 and I8 are connected to one another to move in unison through a pair of tie rods or links 25, the ends of which are slotted and provided with notches 35 as best shown in Fig. 3. The jaws have rectangular holes 35 dimensioned to fit the notches 35 of links 25, and it will therefore be apparent that the tie rods are thus quickly attached to the jaws by merely forcing the slotted ends of the links into the rectangular holes until the vertical walls of the notches align with the rectangular holes in the jaws.

Operation From the detailed description thus far given of the vise-like clamping device shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, it will now be understood that when hand wheel 3| is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the left end of Fig. 1, the screw 23 will also be rotated clockwise thus moving the internal screw 24 to the left or in a direction toward the stationary end wall or plate l4. This rotary movement of screw 23 and longitudinal movement of screw 24 actuates the movable jaws l5, l1 and I8 causing them to slide upon base [3 in the following manner. Jaws l5 and I8 will be moved in unison and parallel relative to one another in the direction indicated by the arrows A (Fig. 1), while jaw I1 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow B.

The device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive shows four available pocket-like clamping areas designated 0, D, E and F respectively. Clamping area C is defined by stationary end wall or jaw l4 and movable jaw l5, clamping area D is defined by movable jaws l6 and I1, clamping area B is defined by movable jaws I1 and I8, and clamping area F is defined by movable jaw [31 and stationary end wall or jaw 15.

Assume now that the clamping device illu-strated in Figs. 1 to 6 is to be used for high production drilling operations. For this use, work pieces to be drilled, such as those indicated by dotted lines at G and H, may be simultaneously clamped within areas C and E while similar work pieces such as indicated at J and K are positioned in the areas D and F to be clamped upon release of the work pieces G and H and vice versa.

A modification of the invention shown in Figs. '7 to 11 inclusive illustrates a vise-like clamping device having multiple clamping jaws which are positioned angularly relative to one another.

Referring to the perspective view shown in Fig. 7, reference numeral 48 indicates the modified vise or clamping device generally, including an L-shaped support comprising a base 4| having an upwardly extending wall or plate 42 at one end thereof. Each of the four movable clamping jaws or plates, designated 43,

44, 45 and 46 respectively, have their lower end pivotally mounted to the base 4| by the hinge pins 41 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 9 and are moved angularly relative to one another by a pair of screws 48 and 48 very similar to the screws 23 and 24 shown in Figs. 1 to 6. Screw 48 has an internally threaded bore 50 to receive the right hand threaded screw 49 and an external left hand thread 5| upon which the cross bar 52 is threadedly engaged. Screw 48 is further provided with a reduced end 53 which is rotatably journaled in an aperture 54 provided in stationary wall 42, and a shoulder 55 to limit outward movement of the screw relative to the wall 42. A hand wheel 56, fixed to the reduced end 53 of screw 48 enables manual rotation of the screw whereupon the screw 49 is moved longitudinally to actuate the jaws 43 and 45. The jaws 43 and 45 are connected to move in unison by a pair of tie bars 51 and the jaws 44 and 46 are also moved in unison by a pair of tie bars 58, which latter bars are also pivotally connected to the cross bar 52.

The outer end of screw 49 is flattened to fit between the ears 59 projecting from jaw 43, and a pin 60 carried by the flattened end of the screw slides in the elongated slots 6| formed in the ears 59.

It will now be apparent that when hand wheel 55 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed from the left in Fig. 7, screw 48 will be rotated counterclockwise thus moving the cross bar 52 towards the wall 42 and in turn, through the links 58, the jaws 44 and 45 will be angularly moved toward the jaws 43 and 45 on the hinge pins 41.

counterclockwise movement of screw 48 will move the screw 49 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8, and in turn the jaws 43 and 45 will be angularly moved toward the jaws 44 and 46 on the hinge pins 41.

It will now be clear that upon counterclockwise rotation of hand wheel 56, work pieces such as L and M shown by dotted lines, may be simultaneously clamped between the pairs of jaws 4344 and 45-46 respectively and unclamped upon clockwise rotation of the hand wheel 56. If desired, a work piece (indicated at N) may be clamped between the jaws 44-45 simultaneously with the release of work pieces L and M.

In view of the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the novel clamping device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary. It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described two preferred embodiments of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the function of the invention as herein disclosed and by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a clamping device of the character described, the combination comprising: a base supporting member; an end wall rigidly attached to one end of said base; a plurality of clamping jaws mounted for movement relative to said base; links connecting alternate clamping jaws with one another; and means to move said jaws to simultaneously efifect clamping action between certain of said jaws and an unclamping action between other of said jaws, said last named means including said links and a pair of screws one threaded within the other substantially as described.

2. In a clamping device as specified in claim 1 wherein the outer screw of said pair of screws is rotatably journaled in said end Wall, and one end of the inner screw of said pair of screws is connected with one of said clamping jaws.

3. In a clamping device of the character described, the combination of: a base supporting member; an end wall rigidly attached to one end of said base; a plurality of clamping jaws certain of which are mounted for movement relative to said base, said jaws defining alternate clamping and unclamping areas; links connecting alternate jaws with one another; and means including said links and a pair of screws one threaded within the other to effect clamping action within the clamping areas simultaneously with unclamping action within the unclamping areas upon rotation of the outer of said screws.

EDWARD BRAUN.

Number Number Name Date Ramseaur, Jr Feb. 28, 1899 Dalton Feb. 23, 1904 McIntyre Sept. 17, 1907 Werner May 4, 1909 Brown Feb. 17, 1920 Gaudreau Sept. 15, 1931 Jesionowski Feb. 20, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Mar. 6, 1907 Great Britain Sept. 28, 1903 

